Iu2 Report of the Botamst of the 



Two jcars later Messrs. Stone and Sniith,^^ of Massachusetla, 

 say: "The injurious effects of the rust have been confined to dry 

 sandy soils possessing little capacity for holding water. Where 

 the soil is heavier, possessing more water-retaining qualities, the 

 rust has caused no perceptible harm." In a still later report'^ 

 the same writers endeavor to show " the susceptibility of plants 

 growing in localities possessing soil with little water-retaining 

 properties." Their conclusions are based upon an extensive study 

 of the localities ailected^ also upon mechanical analyses of the 

 surface soils from ten different sections of the State where as- 

 paragus is grown. They also assert that the summer (uredo) 

 stage is limited in its distribution in Massachusetts and is found 

 only on those soils which are sandy and possess little water- 

 retaining properties, wihether they are located near the coast or 

 Inland. 



In conclusion they recommend the selection of soils, for new 

 beds, which possess considerable water-retaining capacity, even 

 if such soil is not adapted quite so well for asparagus during 

 ordinary seasons. For old beds they recommend increasing the 

 soil moisture by ii rigation, by increasing the organic matter, and 

 by mulching. 



Unfortunately nearly all the asparagus sections of Long Island 

 are situated in what Messrs. Stone and Smith have classed as 

 coast lands. A few fields are situated in the drift soils of the 

 terminal moraine, but for the most part they are situated on 

 drift and wash sands. The best of the soils are what are called 

 sandy loams. Differences due to what was considered the vitality 

 of individual plants, also to protection by timber belts, corn fields 

 and other windbreaks, have been observed. In no case in this 

 section have differences been noted which could be traced to soil 

 conditions. In many cases where the fields are situated on wash 

 sands the water-table is so near the surface that the roots of the 

 plants could easily reach the water; while the moraine soils often 

 have a depth of fifty to one hundred feet to the water-table. 



"Hatch (Mass.) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 61, p. 19, 1899. 

 "Hatch (Mass.) Exp. Sta. Ann. Kept., 1899, p. 190. 



